Pneumatic upper-leather-cutting machine.



S TS M. J. &'J. L. SLOAN. `PNEuNIATIc UPPER LEATHER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. |911.

Patented oct. 29, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- /N VE/V TOR W/T/VESSES VIVI. I. i I. I.. SLOAN.PNEUMATIC UPPER LEATHER CUTTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, |917. 1,283,3M. Patented 001;. 29, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

WITNESSE'S mi non :un: u.; rumumn. uumucrou. n c

MICHAEL J. SLOAN, 0F IBINGHAMTON, AND TOSPH L. SIiOAN, OF ENDICOATT, NEWYORK.

PNEUMATIG UPPER-LEATHER-CUTTING MACHINE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 8, 1917. Serial N o. 147,346.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, MICHAEL J. SLoAN and J osnrH L. SLoAN, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Binghamton Vand Endicott, respectively,in the county of Broome and `State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Pneu matic Upper-Leather-CuttingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to cutting and punching machines and hasparticular reference to a machine for cutting or stamping sheetmaterial, such as leather or the like, more particularly for use in themanufacture of shoes.

An object of the present invention is` to provide a machineof thischaracter which is automatic in operation; which may be con; trolled bycompressed air or the like; which is provided with a plurality ofcutters and means for selectively operating the cutters; and to providethe machine with means for automatically removing the blanks when cutand stacking them in their respective piles within a suitablereceptacle.

The invention also aims at the provision of means in a machine of thischaracter by which the cutters may be adjusted longitudinally andlaterally as well as selectively over the sheet to be stamped forutilizing the entire sheet without waste, and so that the cut' ters maybe manipulated to obtain the greatest number of blanks from a sheet ofgiven size.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be in part described, and in part understood, from the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed according to thelpresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through the sameintermediate the ends thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged section taken vertically andtransversely through the operating means, showing one of the cutters inposition to Vbe actuated thereby.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through the controllingvalve for admitting an actuating fluid to the operating means.

Referring to these drawings, the machine in its present embodimentcomprises a horizontal frame supported upon legs X, the

pair of closely spaced apart guide rods A upon which is supported acarriage comprising the block sections 4 and 5 connected together byrods 6. The blocks 4 and 5 carry rollers C bearing on the guide bars Afor supporting the carriage and facilitating transverse adjustmentthereof relatively to the frame. The block 5 of the carriage carries adepending shaft 8, rotatable in the carriage and carrying upon its lowerend beneath the carriage a circular frame or support provided with acircular row of suitably spaced apart plungers 9 mounted for verticalmovement through the frame 7 and held normally in raised position bysprings 10. The upper ends of the plungers 9 are headed to receiveimpact of an operating device and to receive the upper ends of thesprings 10 therebeneath for supporting the plungers.

The plungers are provided with sprocket wheels 11 arranged thereonpreferably below the frame 7 and over which is trained a sprocket chain16 which may be turned by hand for rotating all of the plungerssimultaneously. A sprocket wheel 70 meshes with the chain 16 and iscarried on the lower end of a shaft 71 adapted to travel with thecarriage. Beveled pinions connect the shaft 71 with a hand wheel shaft72 supported on the cross heads 33, the pinion of the shaft 72 beingslidable thereon to follow the carriage. The lower ends of the plungersare provided with cutters in the form of cones 12 of the desiredtransverse configuration having cutting edges at their lower ends andhaving therein ejector blocks 13 held extended from the lower ends ofthe cutters 12 by springs 14 surrounding guide pins 15 connecting theblocks 13 to the plungers.

If desired, counters 40 of any suitable type may be mounted on the frame7 adjacent the plungers 9 and provided with operating arms 41 lyingbeneath the heads of the plungers to be actuated thereby when depressedfor keeping tally upon the number of operations of the respectiveplungers.

EXtendin longitudinally of one of the guide bars is a shaft 55 suitablymounted in the frame and upon which is keyed a longitudinally slidablelbeveled gear wheel 54 meshing with a corresponding beveled gear .wheelcarried upon the carriage block 5 and which is connected lbyintermeshing beveledgear wheels 52 and 53 to the frame supporting shaft8. The shaft 55 has a spur gear wheel 61 near one side of the framemeshing with a -correspondingly formed gear wheel 61 mountedon a shaft57 extending transversely-of the frame and mounted in bearings 36carried on cross heads 33 at the sides of the frame, and which isprovided with a thumb wheel 63 on its outerl end for manually turningthe shaft. A number wheel 62 is preferably mounted upon the shaft 57near the thumb wheel 63 by means of which the relative positions of theshaft 57 may be determined. The numbers on the wheel 62 preferablycorrespond to the cutters or plungers on the frame, and the cutters maybe adjusted into a predetermined position over the anvil Y by turningthe shaft 57.

The operating means is carried upon the block 4 of the carriage and isadapted to overhang the anvil Y. The operating means comprises acylinder 3 rising from the block 4 and provided with a piston 25 thereinnormally urged toward the upper end of the cylinder by an expansionspring 26. The lower end of the spring 26 encircles an impact pin 27suitably headed to receive the piston 25 thereagainst, and which isnormally urged upward by a spring 28 between the head of the pin and thebottom of the cylinder 3. The pin 27 slidably engages through the block4 and is adapted to move downwardly therethrough.

The block or carriage also carries a controlling valve in the form of acylindrical valve casing 21 to one side of which is connected a pipe 20opening into the top of cylinder 3. The casing 21 has a rotary valvetherein with an axial port communieating witli a supply pipe Z leadingfiom any suitable source of fluid pressure supply.-

The rotary valve has a radial port adapted to open into an exhaust pipe64 which leads downwardly into a position beneath the carriage andadapted to register at one side of the cutter in operative position todeliver a blast of air transversely beneath the cutter and across theanvil Y. The rotary part of the valve 2l carries a bell crank lever onone end to which an adjacent end of a connecting rod 24a is connected,the opposite end of the rod having pivotal connection with a latch lever22. rThe connecting rod is mounted in suitable brackets in the block 4and is preferably spring tensioned at one end to retain the valve inclosedposition. To prevent opening of the valve when a cutter is out ofline with the operating mechanism the other arm of the bell crank leverhas a stop bolt 69 depending therefrom and adapted to engage the uppersurface of the frame 7l Theframe 7 has an aperture therein opposite eachplunger to receive the stoplrod69 when the adjacent plunger registersbeneath the impact pin 27, whereupon the valve may be opened and theapparatus actuated.

rllhe carriage is provided with a handle c which may be supported upon apair of arms 18 converging laterally from the block 4, and which may besupported in an upwardly inclined position by a brace rod 19 arrangedbetween the outer ends of the arms 18 and an intermediate portion of thecylinder 3. The latch rod 22 extends longitudinally of the arms 18 andis connected to a trigger 23 pivoted tothe handle a so that the triggermay be moved by the finger for actuating the valve 21.

The block 4 of the carriage has pivoted theretoa lever 30, the long armof the lever extending upwardly and laterally beneath the arms 18 of thehandle and being vguided and tensioned in its movement toward and fromthe handle by spring 31 and its guide bolt, and the arm 30 having alatch bar 32 the nose of which is adapted to enter a notch 334 in thelatch bar 22 to lock the valve 21 closed.

The transverse shaft 55, used for adjusting the cutters into positionover the anvil is connected at its end opposite to that upon which thegearwheel 6l is mounted to a shaft 55 arranged at the side of the frame,by intermeshing beveled gear wheels as shown in Fig. 1, and the shaft 55is connected by beveled gear wheels 50 and 51 with a shaft 49 whichoperates a rotatably mounted receptacle or container in which the stacksof blanks cut are adapted to be deposited. The shaft 49 is connected bybeveled gear wheels 47 and 48 to a vertical shaft 45 upon which thereceptacle 44 is secured. The train of gearing between the shaft 45 ofthe receptacle and the shaft 37 for adjusting the cutters is soproportioned as to advance the cutter frame 7 and the receptaclesimultaneously in predetermined stepped relation so that the blanks cutby one of the cutters are deposited in a predetermined stack or portionof the receptacle 44. A conveyer 43, preferably in the form of anextensible tube, which may comprise a plurality of telescoping sectionsas shown, is supported at one end above the receptacle 44 and at itsopposite end upon a bracket 42 depending from the carriage to supportthe mouth of the tube 43 at one side of the cutter in operative positionand directly opposite Vthe open end of the exhaust pipe 64. The conveyertube 43 is adapted to receive the cut blank from the bed plate or anvilY when the blank is blown into and through the tube by the airexhausting from the pipe 64. The tube 43 is of sectional or flexibleconstruction toAv admit adjustment of the carriage laterally andlongitudinally in the frame, and to convey the blanks from the ladjustedposition `of the carriage to the receptacle 44 which is mounted upon thelorm bearings for a transverse shaft `37.

The shaft 37 carries pinions 39 upon its opposite ends which mesh withrack bars 34 in the sides of the frame. The shaft? has a hand wheel 39aithereon, by means of which the shaft may be turned to adjust thecarriage longitudinally in the frame The cross heads 33 are providedwith vertically spaced apart 1pairs of grooved rollers 35 engagingagainst the Lipper and lower sides of the shafts 34 to hold the guiderods A to the frame.

The cross head 33 adjacent the spur gear wheel 61 is provided with apawl 65 engaging the gear'wheell to hold the same `from turning in onedirection so that the cutter frame? and the receptacle 44 may be turnedin but one direction. The shaft 57 is pro vided with a cylindricalportion or drum between the cross heads 33 and the drum has a spiral rowof perforations 58 therein adapted togbe engaged one at a time by alocking fdog 60 slidably mounted in a bracket 59 on the block 4 of thecarriage. The dog 60 is yieldingly held against the drum and jyieldingly holds the frame 7 and the parts connectedl thereto inadjusted position.`

' In operation, afsheet of material is placed upon the anvil Y and thecarriage is adjusted longitudinally inthe frame by turn-` ing the shaft37, and isadjusted laterally in the frame by operating thehandle a, toadjust the operating mechanism over vthe desired portion of the sheet'onthe anvil. `The shaft v57 is now turned to bring the desired cutterbeneath the operating mechanism and the sprocket chain 16 is movedcircularly to and'draws the trigger 23 to open the valve.

Qland admit compressed air, or other` suitable fluid medium, into theupper end of cylinder 3. The airforces the piston 25 down against the"impact pin 27, which latter strikes the head or" the adjacent plunger 9and forces theplunger 'and its cutter 12 downward. v,As soon as theblank has been cut from the sheet, and the triggerrQSjre* leased, thevalve`21 is closed by the spring actuate'dconnecting rod 24a, and thepipe 2O is placedin communication with the exhaust pipe 64. The fluidunder pressure of the piston 25ands'pring26 isejected from the end oftheV pipe 64 toward the mouth of the conveyer tube 43 with suliicientforce to dislodge the blank from the lower end of the cutter and theanvil and force the blank through the tube 43 into the adjacent side ofthe receptacle 44. The carriage may now be .quickly shifted into anotherposition and the cutting operation repeated. The blanks fled to thereceptacle 44 are deposited one on topv of the other beneath the outletend of the conveyer tube. Y, When a different cutter is adjusted intoposition beneath the operating mechanism the receptacle 44 iscorrespondingly adjusted to bring the corresponding compartment or stack46 into position beneaththe delivery end of the tube.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the details of construction and design of the above specilicallydescribed embodiment of this invention without departing from the spiritthereof, such changes and modilications'being restricted only by thescope of the following claims What is Vclaimed is:

1. In a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a carriageadjustably mounted in the frame, operating means mounted on thecarriage, an anvil arranged beneath the carriage to support a sheet tobe cut, means between the carriage and the frame to adjust the carriageinto position over the anvil, and a plurality of cutters arranged to beselectivelyv disposed beneath the operating means for actuation thereby.

2. In a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a carriageadjustably mounted in the frame, an anvil arranged beneath the carriageto support a sheet of material, operating means mounted on the carriage,a plurality of adjustable cutters mounted on the carriage for individualadjustment beneath the operating means for actuation thereby, and meansfor adjusting the angular positions of the cutters with re-y spect tothe longitudinal axis of the frame.

3. In a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a` pair ofguide bars mounted transversely in the frame and adapted forlongitudinal adjustment therein, a carriage adjustably mounted on theguide bars, operating mechanism mounted on the carriage, a cutter frameadjustably mounted on the carriage, a plurality of cutters mounted inthe cutter frame, means for adjusting the cutterv frame to vselectivelydispose theA nation of a frame, a carriage longitudinally` and laterallyadjustable in the frame, operating means on the carriage, a plurality ofcutters adjustably mounted on the carriage, meansV for moving thecutters selectively,

one at a time, into registerV with the operat-` ing means to'b'eactuated thereby, an anvil beneath the carriage to support a sheet ofGenies oi.' this patent :may be obtained for material, a receptaclemounted on the frame, means connecting the receptacle to the cutters foradjusting the receptacle therewith, and delivery means for removing thecut blank from the anvil to a corresponding portion of the receptacle.

'5. `In a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a carriageadjustably m'ounted in the frame, a 'rotary frame mounted on thecarriage, a circular roW of cutters mounted on the rotary frame, meansfor turning the frame to adjust the cutters, a cylinder rising from thecarriage', a spring actuated piston in the cylinder" normally urged intothe upper end of the same, a controlling valve on the carriage, a pipefrom the valve to the upper end of the cylinder, a source of fluidsupply communicating with the valve, said valve being adapted to beopened to admit fluid tothe top of the cylinderl for moving the pistondown, an impact pin mounted on the carriage beneath the piston to be`depressed thereby, and means associated with the valve for freeing` thesame for operation when a cutter is adjusted into register Vwith saidimpactpin. Y

G. In a blank cutting machine, the combination ofa frame, a carriage inthe frame, a fluid pressure cylinder mounted on the carriage, acontrolling valve, a pipe connectingl "the valve to the cylinder for"delivering` fluid to the latter `when the valve is open, anv anvilarranged 4beneath the carriage adapted to support a sheet to be cut, acutter for adjustment beneath the fluid cylinder to be actuated bythepiston thereof, a receptacle for blanks, a conveyer leading from the4anvil to the receptacle,and an exhaust pipe leading from the valve tothe anvil and opening toward the conveyer adapted to deliver fluidexhausted from the cylinder into the conveyer for feeding cut blanksthereto.

j 7. In a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a movablecarriage mounted on the frame, a handle on the carriage for adjustingthe same, a fiuid cylinder on the carriage, a valve on the carriagecontrolling fluid pressure to the cylininder, a trigger on the handleVconnected tothe valve for operating it, a cutter frame adjustablymounted on the carriage, a plurality of cutters on the cutter frame,means on the `carriage for j adjusting the cutter frame to selectivelyregister the desired cut-` ter with the fluid cylinder for actuating thecutter, a receptacle mounted on the frame, a connection between thereceptacle and the cutter frame for'ad'justing the receptacletherej'vith, and means for delivering cut blanks to the receptacle.

8. na blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, operating meansadjustably mounted on the frame, an anvil be neath the operating meansfor supporting a sheet of material to be cut, a plurality of cuttersarranged in the frame for Vadjustment, one at a time, into line with theoperating means, a flexible conveyer tube secured at one end beneath'the operating means and adapted toropen at oneA side of a cutter' whenin operative position, a re-V ceptacle fixed to the frame at theopposite end of the conveyer tube, said conveyer tube being adapted toflex during the adjustment of the operating means, and means associatedwith the operating means for delivering cut blanks from the handlethrough `the conveyer tube into the receptacle.

9. ln a blank cutting machine, the combination of a frame, a carriageadjustably mounted in the frame, an anvil fixed beneath theframeadaptedto support a sheet of material to be cut, operating means carl aflexibleconveyer tube, secured at one end to the bracket, and opening attheopposite side of said cutter, and a receptacle into which said tubedischarges, said operating means being adapted to deliver' fluid underpressure from the cylinder to said pipe for dislodginga .cut blank `frombeneath the cut-` ter and delivering the blankthrough said tube into thereceptacle. I j j 10. In a blank cutting machine,`the combination of aframe, operating means mount! ed in the frame, a cutter frame adjustablymounted in said first frame, a plurality of cutters mounted on thecutter frame and adapted to be adjusted, one at a time, into positionbeneath said operating means, an anvil adapted to receive a sheet to beout, a receptacle` having compartments therein corresponding to thenumber of cutters on the cutter frame, blank feeding means leading fromthe anvil to the receptacle to de-fA n posit blanks in the compartmentsof the receptacle, one at a time, and a connection between the cutterframe and the receptacle for simultaneously adjusting the same to denliver blanks cut by the cutters-into their respective compartments inthereceptacle.

In testimony Whereofwe have affixed our signatures in the presence oftwo witnesses.,A

" MICHAEL J SLOAN.

JOSEPH L. SLOAN. Witnesses:

\ A.`L. SCHWAB,

E. M. Howler. j

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentmi Washington, D.6"

